Routine maintenance is key to cheaper repairs

In his 35 years as a mechanic, Domenic DiSiena said he's seen a lot of car repairs that could have been avoided, including one involving a Volkswagen Beetle.

“The young lady was driving the car with a check engine light on for approximately a week. Now, if she would have had the check engine light diagnosed, it would have told her, it's coolant,” DiSiena said.

Instead the Beetle overheated and the motor blew. It ended up costing $3,000 to $4,000 to replace it.

Consumer Reports talked with mechanics across the country who had equally scary and costly stories.

“Routine maintenance and early fixes when something starts to go wrong can save you plenty,” said Jon Linkov, of Consumer Reports.

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Mechanics: Regular maintenance needed

For example, rebuilding a transmission runs about $3,000.

“If your transmission fluid is too low, it's probably because of a leak. If you do have to add fluid, don't overfill. That'll make it worse,” Linkov said.

Replacing an engine is a $3,000 to $6,000 job.

“To prevent this, check your oil level once per month. And remember to change your oil and the timing belt according to the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual,” Linkov said.

A new catalytic converter can cost $900.

“A catalytic converter can become overtaxed if your engine isn't tuned and starts to malfunction. So don't ignore that check engine light when it comes on, and make sure you get regular tune-ups,” Linkov said.

Experts suggest referring to your owner's manual to see when you should take your car in for maintenance.

It can also be helpful to put reminders on your calendar to schedule an appointment at your garage.